Who doesn’t want a little bit of Willy Wonka in Alexandria?
This spring, Madame Coco’s Emporium And Everything Chocolate will open at 103 S. St. Asaph Street in the Old Town space that was the previous home to the Mint Condition consignment shop (now at 122 S. Royal Street). The creative force behind the project says that once it opens it will be a salon-styled chocolate shop for hanging out and getting Tarot card readings.
Meshelle Armstrong of the Eat Good Food Group is still designing the concept, which was first reported by Alexandria Living Magazine. She’s renting the space from building owner Megan Podolsky and partnering with Daniel and Stacey Wharam, the owners of Zuki Moon in Del Ray, Grape + Bean Rosemont and Fontaine Caffe & Creperie.
Armstrong also created the concept for Zuki Moon, which opened last October. Like the Zuki character, Madame Coco will have an entirely fictional backstory to set the tone for the hangout. She says she wants to open the shop sometime in March, and is still looking for partners.
“I’m sourcing chocolate from all over the world,” Armstrong told ALXnow. “I believe I can this can turn this into something really special. I really would like to find a small group of people who would be interested in partnering.”
Armstrong said that the Madame Coco character is one of her alter egos and that the shop will carry ice cream, an assortment of chocolates, candles, as well as serve non-alcoholic drinks.
“She’s loves fantasy, she loves whimsy, she loves chocolate and she loves socializing,” Armstrong said. “That’s basically who she is, and the shop is going to be like an old fashioned Parisian-styled salon where you can sit and eat chocolate and drink coffee and come up with ideas.”